FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Capitalizing on a pair of four-run innings, the Nova Southeastern Sharks continued their early season hot streak with a 13-3 win over Valdosta State on Friday evening from the NSU Baseball Complex. The Sharks improved to 4-0 on the campaign and Tyler Epstein recorded a career-high five RBIS to pace the NSU offense.

INSIDE THE MATCH-UP
SCORE: Nova Southeastern 13, Valdosta State 3
RECORDS: Nova Southeastern 4-0, Valdosta State 2-2
LOCATION: Fort Lauderdale, Fla. | NSU Baseball Complex
GET SOCIAL: Instagram and Twitter – NSU_Baseball

HOW IT HAPPENED
Matt Kavanaugh toed the rubber for the second consecutive Friday evening game for the Sharks and found himself in trouble early. The Blazers jumped out to a 2-0 lead with an opposite field home run. The southpaw kept VSU off the scoreboard in the second frame, with help from an outstanding diving catch from Stephen Schissler.
Adam Frank led off the bottom of the second with a single to center, and later scored on an RBI single from Schissler to put the score at 2-1. Kavanaugh set the Blazers down in order in the top of the third inning, finishing off the frame with a strikeout.

For the third time in the first four games of the season, the Sharks offense erupted in the bottom of the third inning, scoring four runs to take a 5-2 lead. Nova Southeastern did all their damage with two outs, , Daniel Irisarri scored on a wild pitch, tying the contest 2-2. Following back-to-back walks from Alejandro Macario and Schissler, the bases were loaded for Tyler Epstein. The shortstop doubled down the left-field line, clearing the bases and capping the four-run outburst for NSU.
Kavanaugh finished his evening after the fifth, limiting the damage following the home run and left in line for the victory.

Jarret Krzyzanowski took over on the mound for the Sharks in the top of the sixth and allowed a run on a double to put the score at 6-3. Three consecutive hits to open the bottom of the frame for NSU scored two, as Irisarri drove in Adan Fernandez with a double to left center and then scored on a single from Adam Frank. Michael Avendano drove in two runs, with the bases loaded, pushing the Nova Southeastern lead to 10-3.

Marcus Franco provided some power off the bench for NSU, blasting his first career collegiate home run in the bottom of the seventh inning. NSU added two more runs in the eighth inning, taking a 13-3 lead and Lucas Reid sealed the win with the final three outs.

BOX SCORE BREAKDOWN

• The Sharks have scored 43 runs in the first four games of the season, and have outscored opponents 43-17.

UP NEXT
Nova Southeastern continues their homestand with a Saturday afternoon doubleheader against Missouri Southern on 2/12. First-pitch from the NSU Baseball Complex is set for 1 p.m.